Inspired by the sun and tempered by the earth, the wines and olive oils of the Herdade Paço do Conde are well-structured and elegant, particularly apt to grace fine tables.
The estate of Paço do Conte in southern Portugal covers approximately 4,000 hectares and is currently farmed by three brothers. Historical documents show that this estate belonged to the Santo Condestável, D. Nuno Álvares Pereira, an important Portuguese general and saint, who offered it as dowry upon the marriage of his daughter in 1378.
After the Liberal Wars following the return of King D. Pedro from Brazil, this property came to belong to the current family of owners, who have been farming here for 300 years.
Earlier vestiges of occupation, including the Baleizão Treasure found nearby, date from as early as the Bronze Age and confirm the occupation of this region by Phoenicians, Visigoths, Arabs and Romans, all of whom took advantage of the soil and the climate to grow grains, grapes, olives and other crops.
The planting of 120 hectares of vineyards was begun in 1995 with grapes primarily of Portuguese origin (Aragonez, Trincadeira, Touriga Nacional, Castelão, Antão Vaz and Arinto), complemented by international varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet). The vineyards are planted in clay-schist soils and enjoy a south facing aspect. These lesser fertile soils are being used for agriculture for the first time, a true “New World” in the heart of ancient European wine culture.
A modern winery was set up inside of centenary buildings to produce Herdade Paço do Conde, Herdade das Albernoas and a new wine, Vilares. These modern Portuguese wines, nevertheless maintain all the tradition and characteristics of the region.
The first vintage was taken to market in 2002. From that moment on, the winery has received numerous medals and awards at the most important wine competitions.
The Castelo Branco brothers come from long farming tradition.
The entire estate meets all the most demanding European environmental protection regulations and all the grapes and olives are grown in accordance with Integrated Production practices. Crop diversity is guaranteed through the cultivation of wheat, sunflowers, corn, melons and natural and seeded pasturelands. This supports the coexistence with naturally occurring traditional flora and fauna.
This harmony is passed on to our products. Each bottle of wine and olive oil contains a world of quality and tradition allied with modernity and with the same love of hard work that characterised our ancestors and that continues to be one or our core values.
Come and experience the peaceful blend of tradition and modernity that our estate provides and taste it in our wines and olive oils.
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